The Gooney Bird Books

Mrs. Pidgeon's second grade has one student who is, shall we say, somewhat unusual. New to the school in October, by Thanksgiving she has completely entranced the entire class. And there's a whole school year yet to come

There’s never been anyone like Gooney Bird Greene at Watertower Elementary School. What other new kid comes to school wearing pajamas and cowboy boots one day and a polka-dot t-shirt and tutu on another? Gooney Bird has to sit right smack in the middle of the class because she likes to be in the middle of everything. She is the star of story time and keeps her teacher and classmates on the edge of their seats with her “absolutely true” stories.

Everything is Mrs. Pigeon's second grade classroom is ready for the Thanksgiving pageant. Except that the costumes don't fit. And there's no Room Mother to make refreshments. And every child wants to be Squanto. And the newly-composed songs are...well, not that great. But suddenly...there is always a suddenly!...under Gooney Bird's able direction, things fall into place and a catastrophe turns into a triumph.

It's December in Watertower Elementary School. The school dog is obligingly wearing fake antlers for the holiday celebration. Mrs. Pidgeon's classroom is studying fables and creating their own. Gooney Bird, of course, is making it fun!

Gooney Bird Greene isn't a new student anymore, now that it is January. Her classmates are getting used to her. But on the day that she wears her special brain-warming hat to school---well, it is clear that she still has a few things to teach them!

Mrs. Pidgeon’s second grade class has a lot to celebrate in February: presidents’ birthdays, Valentine’s Day, and school vacation. Of course, the students are talking about their awesome vacation plans every chance they get. It can be hard to focus on subtraction problems when you’re heading to Hawaii or Florida in seventeen minus seven days! But most of the class (twelve minus three of them, in fact) will be staying home during vacation. Can Gooney Bird Greene keep spirits up while everyone is feeling down? Gooney Bird has a great idea that sends her classmates and her on a snowy spin through U.S. history and geography!

Gooney Bird and her second-grade classmates are studying the human body. The students are in for a surprise when her uncle, Dr. Walter Oglethorpe, an anatomy professor, loans them a skeleton to help them with their research. They use it as an opportunity to teach the whole school about the human body as they label where different parts would be, such as the brain, muscles, digestive system, etc. The skeleton, on display outside the school to show the location of the respiratory system, goes missing, and Gooney Bird becomes head detective, leading her class on an investigation to solve the mystery. The youngsters are enthusiastic, outgoing, and funny. The running joke throughout the story is, "Mrs. Pidgeon's second grade finds this humerus." Readers will discover important facts about anatomy as they follow along with this remarkable class. Line drawings bring to life the unique scenarios the students create for the skeleton. A great choice for beginning chapter-book readers